Sport

Leece strikes twice and Atherton twins get in on the act for Atherton Colls

Atherton Collieries moved up to third in the North West Counties League Division One with a convincing 4-0 home victory over Leek CSOB 4-0.

The fixture was one of only three to survive pitch inspections in the division meaning that a three-figure crowd saw Steve Pilling’s side complete a league double over the Staffordshire team.

Colls welcomed two debutants into their squad with former Atherton LR goalkeeper and manager Phil Priestley keeping a clean sheet whilst Brian Hatton returned to the club after signing from Wigan Robin Park last week.

Colls missed a glut of chances before they finally took a deserved lead on 30 minutes when Karl Atherton crossed to Mitch Leece who finished superbly.

Priestley denied Leek’s Oliver Mellor with a superb instinctive save and Colls doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when visiting keeper Craig Bould fumbled a Brad Cooke cross to give Leece a tap-in.

The Alder House men in extended their lead on 74 minutes when Paul Atherton headed in from close range to take his Colls career tally to 99 goals. His twin Karl then rounded off a great performance with a fine close-range finish.

There are 13 league games left for Colls this season as they go for promotion. Next weekend brings arguably the toughest task as they travel to free scoring league leaders Nelson.

Both Atherton Laburnum Rovers and Daisy Hill’s matches were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. Daisy are at home to Cheadle Town on Saturday while LR have another week off having played the most matches in the division so far.